Naked Bike Ride
The Bend Second Annual Naked Bike Ride began while the sun was still well up, a nice improvement from the Bend First Annual Naked Bike Ride. But why did only ten people express their disdain of the overuse of fossil fuels? Why did only ten Benders show up to BE TOTALLY FREE?
There is nothing like riding bicycles with a group of naked and semi-naked people through Bend on a warm summer Saturday evening! Skinny dipping is similar but not as exhilarating because it lacks the endorphin boost which exercise gives. Riders were glowing with inner peace and nonjudgmental acceptance of others as their good karma radiated from their physical bodies. But next year can Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, and classic rock be played on the excellent sound system with the thumping bass that a woman towed behind her, instead of modern pop rap? (I did like the ragtime tuba music though!)
The Portland metropolitan area has 2.5 million people, and I was told that 12,500 bikers attended this year’s Portland Naked Bike Ride—a per capita percentage of half a percent! In Bend we had ten out of a population of 90,000, a per capita percentage of one nine-hundredth of a percent. Bend needs four hundred and forty more riders than we had this year to equal Portland’s enthusiasm for TRUE FREEDOM. Shuck off your chains of Establishment uptightness, shed your false skin, and join the Bend 3rd Annual Naked Bike Ride next summer! Maximum FUN guaranteed!
—Eddie Kinnamon
In response to, “Trump Pardons Hammonds,” 7/15 on Facebook
Poor journalism. Showing a picture of the crack pot crazy Nevada whack jobs which had nothing to do with the Hammonds who are Oregon Ranchers! Way to feed the frenzy! The true crux of the issue is the Hammonds had served a sentence been released and were sent back to prison! That was the injustice part which deserved the pardon.
#BendTheNewPortland.
—Wendy Sommers, via Facebook
You are partly correct. The poor journalism comes when we believe what the leftist media arm disseminates about the Bundy family. Please research the truth about them, only if you have time. It takes a while, but the truth about them is not what the media tells us.
—Cynthia Faupachi, via Facebook
Cynthia Flupachi Trump’s twitter feed is NOT real journalism. Neither is FOX News. You are the one who needs to turn the channel…..or read some actual real journalism. You people in he right are in a narrow box and you’ve been fooled to think that EVERYTHING outside of that box is fake and a lie when it is you that is living the lie.
—Matthew Bryant, via Facebook
Cynthia Flupachi what makes you think that the people who have disagreed with you haven’t studied? What sources would you have them “study?” I’ve studied plenty of sources that go against what you’re saying and I’m sure the folks you’re disagreeing with have as well.
—Kele Sammons, via Facebook
In response to, “Crowds in the Backcountry,” on 7/12
Yes use is increasing. But does the government need to collect personal data on every user to control that use? Does the proposed system even work as intended? What is the government doing with your data?
—Kathleen Roche, via Facebook
In response to, “Consent and Accountability,” on 7/12
Doctor Nathan Boddie stepped way over the line when he made the unsubstantiated charge that Moey Newbold was a substance abuser. She denies that charge. But no one, least of all Doctor Boddie, can deny that he chose to attack Newbold by publicly sharing information (whether true or not is irrelevant) about a medical condition, the disease of addiction. Doctor Boddie knows this. His attack on Newbold is akin to attacking her because she has cancer. That is the largest breach of trust of all. I believe this was done to not only undermine Newbold’s credibility but also to send a message to any other women out there who may have similar complaints about his behavior. It is what a bully does. His credibility is shot, as a politician and as a doctor. A little humility and soul-searching is in order. But, from what we have seen so far, that is unlikely. Prove us wrong, Nathan. Do the right thing for Bend. You cannot win this election and the longer you stay in the race the harder it will be to mount a legitimate campaign in place of your tainted one.
—Michael Funke, via Bendsource.com
Michael: Agreed. Come on in for your gift card to Palate.
This article appears in Jul 18-25, 2018.
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Source Editors:
Since you didn’t care to publish the letter to the editor I sent you on July 9, here it is as an online comment which concurs with Michael Funke’s letter:
I was deeply concerned to learn over the weekend of allegations against Nathan Boddie. My concern was amplified when I read Nathan’s response to the Source, in which he doubled down against what is essentially an allegation of sexual assault. Moey Newbold has a great deal of bravery and integrity and Nathan’s response to the Source was character assassination, which is just wrong. Full stop. Wrong.
Nathan approached me as an elected official several months ago with a request to endorse his campaign for state assembly. While I agreed to do so at the time, I can no longer endorse Nathan’s political career at any level, and encourage him to drop out of the race as soon as possible so that a new candidate can be chosen by the Deschutes Democrats. The longer he waits, the more damage he does, both to the Democrats and to the greater community.
John Mundy
Bend
In response to why there were only 10 people on the Naked Bike Ride this year?
Hi all, organizer of WNBR Bend here. I have to say no one was as disappointed as I was by the turnout…at first glance that is. However, as a community organizer there are multiple metrics to consider. And I’m going to call this year’s ride a success.
Last year we had 16 riders, 20 facebook likes, 17 rsvps. I organized the ride against discouragement and even anonymous threats; getting media coverage and community acceptance was an uphill battle.
This year, we had twice as many people who went fully nude as last year. This year, we had our first trans person riding, showing off her incredible body. This year, we had 50 RSVPs and an additional 30 likes on the facebook page. This year, we had gender balance. This year, we were offered sponsorship. This year, we had full community acceptance.
This year, we had 7 people JOIN the naked bike ride in the middle of it. They asked us to pull over, they derobed, and joined us on the ride! So we ended up with 17 riders, not 10.
This year was great.
So why the low turnout? Looking back on it, with so many RSVPs and such enthusiasm, I blame circumstance. Wednesday was July 4th and the Freedom Ride. People got trashed. The next day was the Bend Cruiser Ride, and people got trashed. Then it was First Friday, and people got trashed then too. Saturday nights after First Friday are infamously depopulated, holidays notwithstanding. After the ride, I went downtown and it was almost deserted. The lowest turnout downtown I’ve ever seen.
People were just too partied out to go to another bike ride, despite the fact that ours was alcohol free. As an organizer, it’s my job to help plan events around when people were available. And it was admittedly terrible timing.
When trying to establish new traditions, there are growing pains. The feedback I’ve received this year has been quite positive, not one naysayer. Next year, we’ll coordinate the ride taking into account availability, and considering other events.
Until then, be wild and free!
-Lief
PS We DID play some Grateful Dead! Peggy-O to be exact. I tried to get a diverse music selection. I take song requests from facebook, https://www.facebook.com/WNBRBend
I’d love your suggestions next time Eddie!
Hey Eddie —
If you are going to criticize locals for not participating in the Naked Bike Ride or getting “totally free”, you may want to get your terms correct. We refer to our selves as “Bendites” not “Benders”…
I’d also like to remind you, Bend is NOT Portland and if you wish it were, please move there. Please stop trying to make our city a miniature version of Stumptown.